diff -ur b/Makefile a/Makefile
--- b/Makefile	2018-06-21 14:02:53.439716620 -0500
+++ a/Makefile	2018-06-21 14:03:33.900568504 -0500
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 
 # SCMLIT -- try making this first!
 scmlit:	$(ofiles) scmmain.o require.scm Makefile
-	$(LD) -o scmlit $(ofiles) scmmain.o $(LIBS)
+	$(LD) $(LDFLAGS) -o scmlit $(ofiles) scmmain.o $(LIBS)
 	$(MAKE) checklit
 scmflags.h:	scmflags
 scmflags: